The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced plans to suspend or dismantle several flood control projects found to be causing more harm than good to communities and the environment.
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon revealed that certain dike constructions—intended to mitigate flooding—have instead worsened conditions by restricting water flow, reducing the capacity of waterways, or accelerating water movement, which increases damage during heavy rains.
“With enough data and evidence, we might even need to dismantle those flood control projects because of their net harmful effects,” Dizon stated in a press briefing.
The agency is now shifting toward a science-based and nature-based approach, collaborating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Water Resources Management Office (DENR-WRMO), the University of the Philippines’ Project NOAH, and leading hydrologists like Professor Guillermo Tabios.
Dizon acknowledged that many past projects lacked scientific rigor, saying, “There was very little to no science involved in the implementation of these projects.”
The move signals a broader effort to reform infrastructure planning and ensure that future flood control initiatives genuinely protect vulnerable communities while preserving ecological balance. (PNA)
The Bench Files 
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